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Two Years In The Forbidden City (1911)

by Der Ling(Favorite Author)

3.49 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1941184006 (ISBN13: 9781941184004)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Fletcher & Co. Publishers

review 1: Der Ling is a controversal figure. She was a lady in waiting for the last Dowenger Empress of China before she left the service to marry an American. After her marriage, she capitalized on her "princess" title (there is some dispute over this; the title is an honorific only within the Imperial court) and touted her friendship with the Dowenger Empress and her "influence" on the Emperor.Taking all this into account, this "biography" reads more like a stuck-up 16 year old girl's diary than something written by a full grown woman. It's told from Der Ling's POV and she takes credit for everything good that happens (any mistakes or anything bad that happened was clearly due to all the "jealousy" that others had for her). It gets rather tiring to read (and more than a little... more annoying), however, it did provide great insight in the day to day activities within the last Imperial Court of China.Just take everything she says with a grain of salt. Although it's clear that she was devoted to the last Dowenger Empress, she spends more time trying to paint herself in the most flattering light, than making the Dowenger Empress seem like a sympathetic ruler.
review 2: Fascinating book that gives a first-hand account of Imperial life towards the end of the Chinese empire. Pre-dates the events in "The Last Emperor;" the Empress Dowager in this book selected Pu Yi as Emperor while she was on her deathbed.I see on Wikipedia that some of the author's statements are disputed. That's as may be. I didn't read anything that would give me cause to doubt what she put down in this book.In any case, highly recommended. less

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